Apple Watch Series 12 Launched in Nepal: It’s Always Listening!

Most of the focus during the latest Apple launch event went to iPhone Duo, and rightfully so. However, the iPhone 18 Pro Series, the Apple Watch Ultra, and the Apple Watch Series 12 also launched alongside the brand’s first-ever folding phone. In Nepal, meanwhile, the iPhones went official a little while ago, but the watches only just had their prices revealed.

So, how much does the Apple Watch Series 12 run you? Let’s take a look:

What is the Price of the Apple Watch Series 12 in Nepal?

The Apple Watch Series 12 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, and its price in Nepal is Rs 92,500 and Rs 1,04,000, respectively. This time around, the watch is also available with a Milanese strap, which costs a bit more at Rs 1,04,000 (42mm) and Rs 1,15,000 (46mm).

All trims are available to purchase at all Apple authorised stores across Nepal.

The Apple Watch Series 12 has seen a hefty price jump, such that its 42mm variant now costs more than the 46mm of the previous generation. In fact, it costs almost as much as the Xiaomi 17T, which is one of the best-value phones right now. As such, the Apple Watch Series 12 isn’t a purchase for everyone.

For those who do get the Apple Watch Series 12, what are they getting? A bit of new hardware. A few new features, which I was surprised to learn did not already come with Apple Watches. And a few AI shenanigans that definitely raise an eyebrow.

Enough of beating around the bush. Let’s get into the details of it:

Apple Watch Series 12 Overview

The Apple Watch Series 12 sticks to the same design language as its predecessor, shipping in the familiar 42mm and 46mm sizes. Aluminium and titanium case options return — but this time, Apple has also added a new Ceramic option to the mix.

All Apple Watch Series 12 variants come with an IP6X rating, making them virtually dustproof. As for water resistance, Apple has rated it separately. The watch can withstand up to 5ATM of water pressure, making it safe for swimming at depths of up to 50 metres.

As for band choices, the options have remained historically limited to plain ones in Nepal, even though Apple itself offers heaps of choices internationally. However, this time around, we get the Milanese strap option, which I feel will be quite popular despite the premium cost.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi Watch S5 Price in Nepal (October 2026 Updated)

On the front, you get a 1.77-inch or 1.96-inch wide-angle OLED depending on the watch size. It is an LTPO3 panel that can drop the refresh rate down to 1Hz. Likewise, its brightness also goes as low as 1 nit. It can go up to 2,000 nits on the other end.

The display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2 on the aluminium case options. It’s the same glass used on the latest iPhones and is apparently 60% tougher than the Ion-X glass featured on Apple Watch Series 11. The titanium and ceramic options get Sapphire front Crystal, which is even better.

The sensor on the Apple Watch Series 12 has gotten better with improvements in three core elements. The first is the surface area of the electrode, i.e. the bump on the back increased. This, in turn, increases the contact area of the sensor with your skin, improving ECG readings.

Then the photodiodes inside are now organised in a ring to capture light more efficiently from the larger and more power-efficient green LEDs, letting you take more accurate heart rate measurements.

In fact, Apple are so confident in the accuracy of heart rate measurement from the Watch 12 Series that they are saying it’s the “most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable”. They aren’t claiming this out of the thin air tough. They conducted full-fledged internal research and published the papers for the public to see.

Furthermore, Apple Watch Series 12 can now measure HRV (Heart Rate Variability) as often as every five minutes. It also takes background heart rate readings every five seconds, which is the most frequent sensing on an Apple Watch.

(Note: Higher HRV is generally considered a good sign of cardiovascular fitness.)

This updated sensor and reading capability will be paired with a redesigned Health app coming later this year. The new app will have a dedicated “Insights” tab, which shows you your daily metrics and offers personalised guidance. This is what really surprised me! Apple Health did not offer daily guidance until now?

You also get features like Health Age, which compares your key health metrics to your actual age. You can also upload your latest lab results in the Apple Health app to get even more detailed insights. There will also be videos from clinical experts in the app that will be relevant to you.

Powering all the analysis and recommendations is Apple Intelligence, which now also includes Audio Intelligence. I know Apple Intelligence hasn’t had the best reputation so far, but Apple has been working on it. Under Audio Intelligence, you get a few things.

You get features like Live Rewind, which transcribes whatever was said in your surroundings in the last 15 seconds. Then there is Siri Recap, which notes and lists key moments from a conversation. You can manually start Siri Recap or set up a schedule for when it runs.

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The Apple Watch Series 12 also has Sound Recognition, which detects sounds that would require your attention — a doorbell, a baby crying — and alerts you. It’s a handy feature in general, but the ones who will benefit from it the most are people with hearing impairment. Then there is Shazam, letting you identify whatever music is playing around you.

Now, these features sound cool and genuinely useful, but there’s one major issue. Most of these Audio Intelligence features require the Apple Watch Series 12 to be listening to you and the people around you at all times. Apple says the audio is not recorded, cannot be accessed, and syncing is end-to-end encrypted. Apple even has a dedicated “Secure Exclave” within the always-on processor of the new S11 chip to handle all the audio processing securely.

Even so, your watch always listening to you is still a privacy nightmare — not just for you, but for everyone around you as well. But in a world where privacy is increasingly becoming an abstract concept, maybe that’s nothing to worry about.

ALSO READ: Apple iPhone Price in Nepal (October 2026 Updated)

*The specs listed are for the models available in Nepal. Does not include specs related to Titanium/Ceramic casing and 5G variants.

As I mentioned earlier, Apple Watch Series 12 isn’t for everyone. It only makes sense if you are heavily into fitness tracking and are already in the walled garden of the Apple ecosystem. If not, then there are plenty of options that cost a fraction of the price.

For instance, there is the latest Galaxy Watch9 from Apple’s closest competitors, which, while still expensive, is about 30% cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 12.

Likewise, if you are an Android user who doesn’t mind sideloading apps to connect your smartwatch to your phone, then Huawei makes some of the best smartwatches on the market. You could grab the GT 7 Pro at a cheaper rate than the Galaxy Watch.

What do you think about the Apple Watch Series 12? Would you buy it yourself? Do let us know in the comments!